Inking device of printing machines



y A. SCHLES'INGER 2.248.645 INKING DEVICE 0F PRINTING MACHINES Filed Marcus, 1939 4Shee1:s'-Sheet 1 Inventor Attorney y 1941.? A. SCHLESINGER 2.248.645

INKING DEVICE 0F PRINTING MACHINES Filed March 9', 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 1941- A. SCHLESINGER 2.248.645

INKING DEVICE 0F PRINTING MACHINES Filed Marh 9Q 1939 4-Sf1eets-Sheet s Attorney y 1941- v A. SCHLESINGEI? 2248,645

INKING DEVICE 0F PRINTING MACHINES Filed Marbn 9, 19:59 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I nventor ag/mw a I A ttorney Patented July 8, 1941 STATES Application March 9, 1939, Serial No. 260,687 In Great Britain March 14, 1938 21 Claims.

The present invention relates to the inking devices of printing machines and it particularly relates to apparatus designed for the treatment of comparatively stifi inks with the aim of working the ink in order to raise the temperature and consequently increase the fluidity of the ink and bring it to a good consistency for printing. This working may be achieved frictionally by means of contacting rollers rotating at the same surface speed as the cylinder or forme inking rollers or at a different speed therefrom, preferably a substantially higher speed. The rollers may run at different peripheral speeds and/or have an axial movement relatively to one another but this is not essential. In the following description, I refer to the ink-working means as the ink-working device.

One of the difiiculties attendant upon this treatment of the ink is to provide a sufii'cient time for the treatment between the passage of the ink from the supply duct to the printing surface, e. g., through the usual ink distributors which form part of the system of inking rollers which supply the printing cylinder, plate or forme, whilst at the same time ensuring that the ink is supplied to the printing surface at uniform consistency.

It is very desirable that ink be supplied to the printing surface for every printing operation, or

at any rate at quite short intervals, as if the ink for several printing impressions be delivered to the cylinder or forme inking rollers by bringing into contact with the latter one or more rollers charged with sufficient ink for this purpose the inking rollers are liable to become overloaded and the first one or more impressions to receive too much ink and/or the last to receive too little. Consequently if the frictionally-treated or milled ink is transferred directly from the ink-working device to the distributors and the aforesaid lack of uniformity is to be avoided, a quantity of the ink can only be isolated in the ink-working device for a time which is in many cases insuflicient.

In accordance with the present invention ink is isolated between the ink fountain and the forme or cylinder inking rollers for a period of time during which two or more printing impressions are being made and during this time previously worked up ink is being transferred a plurality of times to said rollers. The worked up ink may be transferred for each printing operation, but where the ink is isolated and worked up whilst more than two printing operations are taking place, the transfer of Worked-up ink could take place less frequently, e. g., at every second plurality of transfers are made during each i-solation period.

A quantity of ink sufficient for several printing operations may be. supplied to the ink-work-' ing device from the ink supply, e. g., the usual ink duct and treated ink sufficient for several printing operations periodically. transferred from the device to a reservoir between the device and the inking rollers, and whilst treated ink is being transferred repeatedly from the reservoir to such rollers a quantity of ink sufiicient for several printing operations is isolated and treated in the ink-working device.

Alternatively there may be two or more mills, ink previously worked up by one ink-working device being transferred by repeated transfer operations either directly from the ink-working device or through the intermediary of one or more rollers, whilst the other ink-working device is treating another isolated charge for a period during which several printing operations are being made.

In order that the invention may be the more readily understood reference i hereinafter made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate diagrammatically andby way of example different forms of apparatus which can be used for carrying out the invention,

Fig. 1 shows one form of inking apparatus suitable for carrying out the method according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view of a rotary printing machine incorporating the inking apparatus according to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a view of a modified method of transferring the milled ink to the reservoir. Fig. 4 shows a modified method of transferring treated ink from the reservoir to the first distributor roller. Fig. 5 is a view of a somewhat more simple-form of apparatus. Fig. 6 is a View showing one form of apparatus incorporating duplex ink-working devices. Fig. 7 is a modified form of apparatus incorporating duplex ink-working device and Fig. 8 is a view showing the invention applied to a flat bed machine of the slab type. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a modified transfer means, and Fig. 10 a fragmentary view of another modification of the transfer means.

The invention may be carried into practical effect with the aid of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by providing between the ink supply duct roller I and the ink-working device 2, which in this case comprises three rollers, but may consist of two or four or more, a vibrating roller 3 operated so as to take off from the fountain roller I a sufficiency of ink for several printing operations, say for example ten, and deliver this ink to the ink-working device. The roller is preferably mounted so as to be driven fric tionally by the slowly or intermittently moving fountain roller on the one hand and one of the faster or continuously running rollers of the inkworking device on the other. A second transfer roller 4 is arranged to supply ink from the inkworking device to an appropriate reservoir 5, which in this form comprises four rollers which carry round the treated ink and keep it substantially at the rconsistency at which it leaves the ink-working device. Two rollers, or three or five or more where space permits may compose the reservoir. It is preferred that a plurality of rollers be used, but as is hereinafter described a single roller may be used. It is also possible to use an ink slab, e. g., a reciprocating slab as the ink reservoir. This second transfer roller 4 bridges the ink-working device and the reservoir only once for several printing impressions and supplies to the reservoir a quantity of treated ink sufficient for a corresponding number of printing operations. Yet another transfer roller 6 takes ink from the reservoir and delivers it onto one roller 1 of a set of distributor rollers which carry the ink to theprinting cylinder 8.

The transfer roller 6 bridges thereservoir and the distributor rollers repeatedly during the treatment by the ink-working device of an isolated quantity of ink. say once for each printing operation, so that the distributors are always kept well supplied with ink of a suitable consistency.

In the form of apparatus illustrated, the fountain-roller I is of steel as are the rollers 9, I-

of the ink-working device and the rollers ll. l2 of the reservoir, the transfer rollers and the rollers l3 and M of the ink-working device and reservoir being of composition and being preferably driven frictionally by the steel rollers. The

printing impression or one delivery may serve for more than one printing impression. Alternatively the roller may make a plurality of deliveries for each printing impression.

In the form according to Fig. 1, the ink-working device and reservoir rollers preferably rotate at about the peripheral speed of the inking rollers, but if ink is transferred by a roller 4 (Fig. 3) which leaves the ink-working device and is frictionally driven, the rollers of theink-working device may run at adifferent surface speed. and preferably a considerably higher surface speed than that of the reservoir rollers. The roller 4 (Fig. 1) may normally form a co-operating roller of the ink-working device instead of the reservoir as shown- Especially if it is desired that the reservoir rollers rotate at a higher speed than the peripheral speed of the distributor roller 1, the frictionally driven transfer roller 6 may be arranged to leave the reservoir each time a supply of worked ink is to bedelivered to the dis- 75 tributors (as shown in Fig. 4). This roller 6 when it bridges the reservoir and the distributors may normally co-operate with the distributor 1 instead of with the reservoir roller 2 as shown in Fig. 1.

The single transfer rollers 3, 4 and G, or any of them may be replaced by a plurality of transfer rollers and especially may this be desirable for transferring ink from the ink-working device to the reservoir or from the latter to the distributors when the rollers do not bridge. Fig. 9 shows two transfer rollers arranged to rock from one roller, e. g., l0 to the other (e. g., H)

The ductor roller 3 may be vibrated once for several printing impressions by the aid of a peripheral cam 22 whose shaft is geared through reduction gears 23, 24, 25 and 2B for drive from the main shaft 27 of the machine, the shaft containing the gear 23 being belt driven from the shaft 21 or otherwise driven therefrom. The gear ratio may be such for example that the ductor roller 3 makes one vibration for ten printing impressions. The roller 3 is carried by lever 28 pivoted at 23, the lever comprising a short arm 30 carrying a roller 3| which is urged e. g., by spring means against theperiphery of the cam 22.

The transfer roller 4 is carried by lever 32 which has a roller 33 movable by a peripheral cam 34 whose shaft is also operated through suitable reduction gearing, e. g., from the main shaft 21. The cam gearing is indicated diagrammatically as 35, 36, 31 and 38. The transfer roller may make one vibration for every ten rotations of the printing cylinder, or the same number of vibrations as the roller 3, and the levers 28 and 32 could be coupled for operation by a single cam as shown in Fig. 10. r

The transfer roller 6, carried by a lever 33 which is provided with a roller actuated by a cam 4| makes repeated vibrations whilst the ink is isolated on the rollers 9, l0 and I3, by arranging for the cam shaft 42 to be rotated at a one-to-one ratio from the shaft 43 of the cylinder.

The cams 22, 34 and 4| may be of the adjustable type in order to regulate the duration of contact of the ductor and transfer rollers with the ink duct, the ink-working device, and the reservoir respectively. In the form shown the cams are composed of separate arms 44, 45, 46 which can be opened out (fan fashion) to increase the arc of cam surface.

In the more simple form shown in Fig. 5, the ink-working device comprises two rollers 60, 6|, one of which, viz., roller 60, rocks periodically and bridges the roller 6| and the reservoir roller 62. The relatively large reservoir roller 62 has the advantage that the ink is spread out into a very thin film which is of considerable advantage in ensuring that the ink be subsequently delivered to the sheet as a transparent film, especially for colour printing. One or more rollers 63 of small diameter may advantageously cooperate with the roller 62, these rollers making many revolutions for each rotation of the roller 62 in order to assist in the further treatment of the ink.

In the alternative form shown in Fig. 6 the single set of ink working rollers of the previously described forms of apparatus is replaced by rollers divided into two sets, one set consisting of the rollers l4, l5, |5a and the other of the rollers I6, I"! and Ho. In the form shown the frame l8 which carries the rollers is arranged torock as for exampleby the mechanism shown in my prior Patent No. 2,123,476. The arrangement is such that whilst one set of rollers, e. g., rollers l4, I and l5a with the aid of the ductor roller 3 are working up an isolated charge of ink for a period during which several printing impressions are made, the other set I6, I! and Ila is delivering worked up ink to the roller l8a or a system of rollers l8a, I 9, 20 and 2|, the transfer roller 6 transferring worked ink from the roller H! at every printing operation or at any rate a plurality of times whilst the rollers 14, I5, l5a are working up another charge of ink. After the ink has been worked up on the rollers l4, l5, 15a the unit is rocked to bring the roller [5a into contact with the roller l8a whilst the rollers IS, IT, Ila are brought into engagement with the roller 3 which has previously picked up a charge of ink from the ductor roller lsuitable for several printing impressions. Various other arrangements of the two sets of ink working rollers may be used, the underlying idea being to divide the system of rollers into two or more sets so that a certain charge of ink can be worked up on one set whilst previously worked up ink can be drawn upon for use from the other set.

The ductor roller 3 is carried by a lever 41. This lever carries a roller 48 which tracks a cam 49 which may be adjustable in the same way as the earns 22, 34 and 4| whilst a similar cam 50 may be used to operate the roller 52 and lever 5| of the transfer roller 6.

The shaft 53 of cam 49 may be driven through suitable reduction belt drives 54, 55 from the cylinder shaft 43 or by reduction gearing so as to provide for example, for one vibration of the roller3 for every rotations of the cylinder, and the cam 52 may be driven by a belt 56 from the cylinder shaft 43 at a one-to-one ratio.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, the transfer roller 6 takes ink directly from the ink-working sets, this roller 6 being operated by, for example, a cam in a similar way to the roller 6 of Fig. 6, e. g., for every printing operation, whilst the roller 3 takes ink for several printing operations to the ink-working set, e. g., under the control of a cam such as 49 in Fig. 6. The rollers I5 and l-'!' may be frictionally driven by the rollers l4, a, I6, Ha which are positively geared by wheels 65, 66, 61, 68 to a central gear 69. There may be two transfer rollers 6 carried by arms 10, H connected with the arm 12 to rock together, the arm 12 carrying roller 13 which is actuated by a cam, for example, once for every printing impression.

Inasmuch as a long period of treatment of the ink in the ink-working device is permitted, the number of distributor rollers used may be considerably less than is usual. For example in the case of a cylinder printing machine, it may be found convenient to use say three or five distributor rollers, for example two or three composition rollers contacting with the printing sur face of the cylinder and one or two steel rollers contacting with such composition rollers, the vibrator or vibrators supplying the treated ink to one or both of the steel rollers. It is obvious however that the usual number, or any convenient number, of distributor rollers may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The ink-working device may be composed of two or more rollers. Any one of the vibrator devices may also comprise two, three or more rollers, such an arrangement being convenient for increasing the facilitating of transfer and in some cases for reducing the angular movement which would be necessary if a single vibrator roller be'used. It may be especially convenient to use such multiple rollers between the inkworking device and the reservoir.

It may be found convenient to heat the rollers of the ink-working device and/or the reservoir, particularly where only a few rollers are provided, e. g., as in the ink-workingdevice 60, 6| according to Fig. 5, where heating coils and BI are shown.

Where the reservoir comprises -co-operating rollers the ink is given a further period of working-up so that the ink has successive periods of working up. In the simplest forms shown two successive stages of isolation andworking-up are provided for, but there may be more.

Fig. 8 shows the application of the invention to a flat-bed machine of the slab type, 'in which case the slab 10 forms the reservoir. Ink is taken from the duct l by vibrator 3, in quantities for several printing impressions, e. g., three. The ink is worked up on the ink-working device 2 while a corresponding number of printing impressions are being made and the ink is transferred from the ink-working device to the slab by a roller 4 which bridges the ink-working device and the slab after the ink has been isolated on the ink-working device for the aforesaid time. The ink may be transferred direct to the inking rollers by the slab at every printing operation.

What I claim is: V 1. A method of transferring ink from the ink supply to the inking rollers of a printing machine, which consists in taking from thesupply a charge of ink suiiicient for at leasttwo printing impressions, isolating and working-up said ink to increase its fluidity during a period of time sufiicient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, and'when said ink has been worked-up, 'supplying it to the inking rollers in quantities smaller than said charge but by successive applications to the inking rollers so that while a number'of impressionsare being.

taken corresponding to the said charge, the worked-up ink is supplied in smaller, quantities to the inking rollers by a plurality of transfers soas to obtain substantial uniformity of density of the successive impressions, .and while these impressions are being made, working up another isolated charge of ink sufficient for at least two printing impressions.

2. A method of transferring ink from the ink supply to the inking rollers of a printing machine, which consists in taking from the supply a charge of ink suflicient for at least two printing impressions, isolating and working up said ink to increase its fluidity during a period of time suffi cient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, then removing the worked-up ink to another station and taking up another charge of ink suiiic'ient for at least two printing impressions and isolating and Workingup said second charge also for a period of time suflicient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, and Whilst such second charge is being isolated and workedup, supplying worked-up ink from the first charge to the inking rollers in quantities smaller than said charge but by successive applications to the inking rollers so that while 'aqplurality of .impressio-ns are being taken, an amount of workedup ink corresponding to said charge is supplied in successive portions to the inking rollers so as to obtain substantial uniformity of density of the successive impressions.

3. A method of transferring ink from the ink supply to the inking rollers of a printing machine, which consists in taking from the supply a charge of ink sufficient for at least two printing impressions, isolating and working up said ink to increase its fluidity during a period of time sufficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, then taking up another charge of ink sufficient for at least two printing impressions and isolating and working-up said second charge to another station also for a period of time suflicient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, and whilst such second charge is being isolated and worked up supplying workedup ink from the first charge to the inking rollers in quantities smaller than said charge but by successive applications to the inking rollers so that while a plurality of impressions are being taken, an amount of worked-up ink corresponding to said charge is supplied in successive portions to said inking rollers so as to obtain substantial uniformity of density of the successive impressions.

4. A method of transferring ink from the ink supply to the inking rollers of a printing machine, which consists in taking from the supply a charge of ink sufficient for at least two printing impressions, isolating and working-up said ink to increase its fluidity during a period of time sufficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, warming the ink while it is being so treated, and when said ink has been worked-up, supplying it to the inking rollers in quantities smaller than said charge but by successive applications to the inking rollers so that while a number of impressions are being taken corresponding to the said charge, the worked up ink is supplied in smaller quantities to the inking rollers by a plurality of transfers so as to obtain substantial uniformity of density of the successive impressions, and while these impressions are being made, working up and warming another isolated chargeof ink sufficient for at least two printing impressions.

5. A method of transferring ink from the ink supply to the inking rollers of a printing machine, which consists in taking from the supply a charge of ink sufficient for at least two printing impressions, isolating and working up said ink to increase its fluidity during a period of time sufficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, then removing the worked up ink to another station, warming the ink whilst it is at such station and taking up another charge of ink sufficient for at least two printing impressions and isolating and working-up said second charge also for a period of time sufiicient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, and whilst such second charge is being isolated and warmed and worked up, supplying worked-up ink from the first charge to the inking rollers in quantities smaller than said charge but by successive applications to the inking rollers so that while a plurality of impressions are being taken an amount of worked up ink corresponding to said charge is supplied in successive portions to the inking rollers so as to obtain substantial uniformity of density of the successive impressions,

6. Inking apparatus comprising an ink fountain, an ink working device situated near the said fountain and adapted, to treat ink to increase its fluidity, cylinder or forme inking rollers and a reservoir between'said device and said inking rollers, means operative at intervals sufficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine for transferring from said fountain to said device a charge of ink sufficient for a plurality of printing impressions and means operative at similar intervals for transferring from said device to said reservoir a quantity of ink sufficient for a plurality of printing impressions, so as to permit the said charge of ink to be isolated on said device and worked up thereby for a period of time sufficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, means operative periodically for transferring ink from said reservoir to said inking rollers a plurality of times during the printing of a number of impressions corresponding tosaid charge and means regulating the transfers thereby effected so that the quantity of ink delivered at each transfer to the inking rollers is only a portion of an amount corresponding to said charge.

7. Inking apparatus comprising an ink fountain, an ink working device comprising a plurality of rollers situated near the said fountain and rotatable in co-operation to treat ink to increase its fluidity, cylinder or forms inking rollers and a reservoir comprising at least one roller separate from the rollers of said ink working device and situated between said device and said inking rollers, means operative at intervals suflicient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine for transferring from said fountain to said device a charge of ink sufficient for a plurality of printing impressions and means operative at similar intervals for bridging said device and said reservoir for a time sufficient to transfer from said device to said reservoir a quantity of ink suflicient for a plurality of printing impressions so as to permit the said charge of ink to be isolated on said device and worked up thereby for a period of time suflicient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, means operative periodioally for transferring ink from said reservoir to said inking rollers a plurality of times during the printing of a number of impressions corresponding to said charge and means regulating the transfers thereby effected so that the quantity of ink delivered to the inking rollers at each transfer is only a portion of an amount corresponding to said charge.

8. Inking apparatus comprising an ink fountain, an ink working device comprising a plurality of rollers situated near the said fountain and rotatable in co-operation to treat ink to increase its fluidity, cylinder or forme inking rollers and a reservoir comprising at least one roller separate from the rollers of said ink-working device and situated between said device and said inking rollers, means operative at intervals sufficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine for transferring from said fountain to said device a charge of ink sufficient for a plurality of printing impressions and means operative at similar intervals for bridging said device and said reservoir for a time suificient to transfer from said device to said reservoir a quantity of ink for a plurality of printing impressions, and means timing said bridging means to operate at such intervals as to permit the said charge of ink to be isolated on said device and worked up thereby for a period of time sufficient to' enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, means operative periodically for bridging said reservoir and said inking rollers a plurality of times during the printing of a number of impressions corresponding to said charge and means regulating the transfers thereby effected so that the quantity of ink delivered to the inking rollers at each transfer is only a portion of an amount corresponding to said charge. v,

9. In an inking apparatus according to claim 6, in which said inking device comprises a plurality of co-operating rollers, means for bodily moving at least one roller into contact with said reservoir at intervals sufficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machines in order to transfer worked up ink thereto.

10. In an inking apparatus according to claim 6, inwhich said reservoir comprises a plurality of co-operating rollers, means for bodily moving at least one of said rollers into contact with said inking rollers a plurality of times during the printing of a number of impressions corresponding to said charge and means regulating the duration of inking engagement between said reservoir roller and said inking rollers so that the quantity of ink delivered at each transfer is only a portion of an amount corresponding to said charge.

11. In an inking device according to claim 6, in which said inking device comprises a plurality of co-operating rollers and said reservoir comprises at least one roller, means for bodily moving at least one reservoir roller into contact with a roller of said device to enable the reservoir to take up from the device its charge of worked up ink.

12. An inking device according to claim 6 in which the ink working device comprises a plurality of co-operating rollers and the reservoir comprises at least one roller of considerably greater diameter than that of any of the rollers of said device.

13. An inking device according to claim 6, in which said reservoir comprises a plurality of operating rollers.

14. Inking apparatus comprising an ink fountain, an ink working device comprising a pmrality of co-operating rollers, situated near the said fountain and adapted to treat ink to increase its fluidity, cylinder or forme inking rollers means for driving said inking rollers and means for driving said inking working rollers at a higher peripheral speed than said inking rollers, a reservoir comprising at least one roller arranged between said device and said inking rollers, means operative at intervals sufficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine for transferring from said fountain to said device a charge of ink suificient for a plurality of printing impressions, at least one transfer roller arranged to contact in turn with said device and said reservoir and means operative at similar intervals for moving said roller from said device to said reservoir to transfer a quantity of ink sufficient for a plurality of printing impressions, so as to permit the said charge of ink to be isolated on said device and worked up thereby for a period of time sufficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, means operative periodically for transferring ink from said reservoir to said inking rollers a plurality of times during the printing of a number of impressions corresponding to said charge; and means regulating said transfers so that the quantity of ink delivered at each transfer is only a-portion of an amount corresponding to said charge.

15. Inking apparatus comprising an ink fountain, an ink working device comprising a plu rality of co-operating rollers situated near the said fountain and adapted to treat ink to in creaseits fluidity, cylinderor forme inking rollers, means for driving said inking rollers and means for driving said ink working rollers at a higher peripheral speedthan said inking rollers, a reservoir comprising at least one roller arranged between said device and said inking roll- 'ers, means for driving said roller at a higher.

peripheral speed than that of said inking rollers, means operative at intervals sufiicient to enable at least two printing impressions to be. made by the machine for transferring from said fountain to said device'a charge of ink sufficient for a plurality of printing impressions and means operative at similar intervals for bridging the rollers of said device and the rollers of said reservoir so as .to transfer from said device to said reservoir' a quantity of ink sufficient for a plurality of printing impressions thereby permitting the said charge of ink to be isolated on said device and worked up thereby for a period of time sumcient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine, a transfer roller operative to contact in turn with said reservoir and said inking rollers'and means for bringing said roller into contact with said inking rollers a plurality of times during the printing of a number of impressions corresponding to said charge, and means regulating the transfers effected by said roller so that the quantity of ink delivered at each transfer is only a portion of an amount corresponding to said charge.

16. Inking apparatus comprising an ink fountain, cylinder or forme inking rollers, at least two ink-working devices interposed between said fountain and said inking rollers, a reservoir for worked up ink between said devices and said inking rollers, means operative at intervals sufiicient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine to transfer periodically from said fountain of each of said devices in turn a charge of ink sufficient for a plurality of printing impressions, means operative to isolate each ink-Working device in turn from said reservoir for a period of time sufficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine and to bring together another of said devices and the reservoir for the transfer at the same time of ink said latter device to the reservoir, means for operating said isolated device during this period so as to increase the fluidity of ink thereon, and means operative to efiect a plurality of transfers from said reservoir to said inking rollers during the same period and means regulating said transfers so that the quantity of ink delivered at each transfer is only a portion of the amount of ink corresponding to said charge,

1'7. Inking apparatus comprising an ink fountain, cylinder or forme inking rollers, at least two ink working devices interposed between said fountain and said inking rollers, means operative at intervals sufficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine to transfer from said fountain to each of said devices in turn a charge of ink sufiicient for a plurality of printing impressions, means operative to isolate each ink-working device in turn from said inking rollers for a period of time sufiicient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine and to make another of said devices at the same time available for the transfer of ink therefrom to the inking rollers, means for operating said isolated device during this period-so as to work-up and increase the fluidity of-the ink thereon, and means operative to effect a plurality of transfers from such other device to said inking rollers during the same period and means regulating said transfers so that the quantity of ink delivered at each transfer is only a portion of the amount of ink corresponding to said charge. I

18. Inking apparatus comprising an ink fountain, cylinder or forme inking rollers, at least two ink working devices interposed between said fountain and said inking rollers, each device comprising at least two co-operating rollers, said sets of rollers being mounted on a common carrier, means for rotating the rollers of said sets for working up the ink thereon to increase its fluidity, means operative to transfer periodically from said fountain to each of said sets of rollers in turn a charge of ink sufficient for a plurality of printing impressions, means for transferring worked up ink from each of said devices in turn to said inking rollers, means for bodily moving said carrier so as on the one hand to isolate each ink-working set of rollers in turn from said latter transferring means and said inking rollers for a period of time suficient to enable at least two printing impressions to be made by the machine and on the other hand to bring another of said sets of rollers into co-operative relationship with said means for transferring ink to the inking rollers, and means for operating said last mentioned transferring means to effect a plurality of transfers from said set of rollers which have been brought into co-operative relationship therewith to said inking rollers during the period of isolation and ink-working of said other set, and means regulating said transfers so that the quantity of ink delivered to the inking rollers at each transfer is only a portion of an amount of ink corresponding to said charge.

19. A method of transferring ink from the ink supply to the inking rollers of a printing machine, which consists in taking from the supply a charge of ink, isolating and working up said ink to increase its fluidity, then removing such ink towards the inking rollers, taking up another charge of ink and whilst said latter charge is being isolated and worked-up at the first station, subjecting said first charge to at least one further period of isolation and working-up before transferring said charge to the inking rollers.

20. Inking apparatus comprising an ink fountain, cylinder or forme inking rollers, and at least two ink-working devices interposed in series between said fountain and said inking rollers, means for transferring a charge of ink from said fountain to the first of said ink-working devices, means for transferring ink after it has been given a period of isolation and working-up on said first ink-working device from said device to the next of said ink-working devices, and means for transferring ink from said second device, after it has been given a period of isolation and working-up thereon, towards said inking rollers, means for operating said ink-working devices simultaneously and means for operating said ink transferring means periodically at such intervals that while one device is initially working-up a charge of ink a second device is further working-up a charge of ink previously worked-up by said first device.

21. Inking apparatus comprising an ink fountain, cylinder or forme inking rollers, and at least two ink-working devices interposed in series between said fountain and said inking rollers, means for transferring a charge of ink from said fountain to the first of said ink-working devices, means for bridging said device and the next inkworking device for transferring ink after it has been given a period of isolation and working-up on said first ink-working device from said device to said further ink-working device, and means for transferring ink from said second device, after it has been given a period of isolation and workingup thereon, towards said inking rollers, means for operating said ink-working devices simultaneously and means for operating said ink transferring means periodically at such intervals that while one device is initially working-up a charge of ink a second device is further working-up a charge of ink previously worked-up by said first device.

ALFRED SCHLESINGER. 

